Plains, North Lanarkshire

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Aerial photograph of Plains (2003)

Plains (pron. pleɪnz) is a village (pop. 2291) ^[1] situated 2 miles east of the town of Airdrie in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, between Scotland's two largest cities: Glasgow and Edinburgh, being approximately one third of the distance from Glasgow (14 miles) to Edinburgh (30 miles) along the A89 road. Plains and Airdrie form part of the eastern periphery of the Greater Glasgow metropolitan area.

1 Etymology
2 Geography
3 History
4 Plains Today
- 4.1 Sectariarism
- 4.2 Points of Interest
5 References and Further reading

[edit] Etymology

The origin of the name "Plains" is unknown. One suggestion is that the name derives (via the plural of Plain) from the view afforded to the Cistercian Monks of Newbattle Abbey as they travelled to what is now the site of the village. These monks farmed the wider area for grain in what became known as Monklands. But the geography of the area runs contrary to this idea. Alternatively, the name may be a contraction of "The Plains of Waterloo" - a name given by a returning soldier from the Napoleonic wars.^[2] Eitherway, it is not uncommon for locals to refer to the village as "The Plains".

There is no known association to any other place called Plains. But in 1976, newly elected US President Jimmy Carter (of Plains, Georgia) received a congratulatory telegram from Plains newsagent - also Jimmy Carter. Thus the family "the Carters of Plains" were featured in the Scottish national tabloid, The Daily Record.

[edit] Geography

Plains is situated on the gentle south facing slope of the valley of the North Calder Water, a tributary of the River Clyde.

The Main Street (the A89) runs in a straight line for about 1 mile east to west. Almost all of the residential housing of the village lies on the northern side of Main St., forming a roughly square shape (1 mile each side). To the south of Main St., the valley drops more steeply down to the North Calder then steeply up the other side which is home to the parkland Easter Moffat golf course.

Plains lies at around 500 ft above sea level. From nearby Airdriehill, there is a wide vista to the west across the urbanised lower Clyde valley. Beyond, on a clear day, it is possible to see Ben Lomond and the Isle of Arran.

To the south east of Plains, the land rises to almost 1000 feet - the highest land in the narrow isthmus across central Scotland - Scotland's "Continental Divide". Consequently, the area was chosen as the location for Scotland's first television transmitting stations. The Black Hill Transmitter, at 1000 ft tall, is a very prominent local landmark. It began broadcasting independent Scottish Television services in August, 1957. Nearby, but not so tall or prominent, is Kirk o'Shotts transmitter mast which broadcast Scotland's first BBC television signals in March, 1952.

[edit] History

The village was founded in the mid 19th century along what is now the A89 Airdrie to Bathgate road. The population of the village in 1860 is recorded at just over 200. Much of the original growth of the village was in keeping with the expansion of the coal mining industry in North Lanarkshire, most notably the Ardenrigg Coal Co Ltd. This coal mining activity dwindled in the second half of the 20th century. However, Scotland's largest open cast coal mine is currently in operation at Drumshangie Moss, a few miles north-west of Plains. There has recently been controversy ^[3] regarding the impact of this mine on the site of the Stanrigg Mining Disaster where, in July 1918, a collapse led to the deaths of 19 local mine workers. ^[4]

Late 20th century expansion of the village has been to the north of the A89 road in separate developments of local government or Council houses, consisting of blocks of terraced houses. Originally planned as affordable, rented accommodations for the predominantly working class population, a large percentage have become owner occupied in recent years. At the beginning of the 21st century, a new development of relatively large, detached houses was established in the north-east corner of the village.

[edit] Plains Today

Today, Plains is a largely residential settlement with local people commuting for employment throughout urban central Scotland.

[edit] Sectariarism

In contrast to most other towns and villages in North Lanarkshire, Plains is predominantly Catholic with many people being the descendants of immigrant Irish workers from the 19th century. As elsewhere in the West of Scotland, a sectarian tension persists between (descendants of Irish) Catholic and (descendants of Scottish) Protestants. In Plains, this is manifest in graffiti bearing the slogans of Irish Republicanism. However, the seriousness of the slogan writers is questionable: in the 1990's, a prominent slogan which had read "Remember the Easter Rising" was soon edited to read "Remember the Easter Bunny" and remained on display in this form for years thereafter.

The village church, St. David's, was established in 1897 and rebuilt in 1994. It serves a congregation of approximately 1800. St. David's is part of the Diocese of Motherwell. Other Christian worship takes place at the Elim Gospel Hall.

There are two state schools: St David's Primary (Catholic) and Plains Primary (Non-denominational). In the early 2000s, a new building was constructed in the centre of the village to house both schools.

[edit] Points of Interest

Running parallel and around 100 metres south of Main Street is National Cycle Route 75, a Sustrans long distance cycle path. This was constructed along the bed of a former industrial railway line which ultimately linked Glasgow and Edinburgh. As of 2005, there is a proposal to re-establish a commuter railway along this line. ^[5]

The Sustrans path passes near to Plains Countryside Park - a local picnic area overlooking the North Calder stream. In the mid to late 20th century, this was the site of the annual Plains summer gala (Gala Day) - a day of parades, children's sports events and entertainment - a tradition typical of villages in the area. In Plains the custom is now defunct although it continues in many neighbouring communities to the east such as Harthill, Whitburn and Armadale.